Farhad Reza, a middle-order batsman who bowls useful medium-pace, was called up to the national squad for the tour of Zimbabwe in July 2006 after scoring the most runs in the previous year's domestic league. He got his chance in the second one-day international and became the first Bangladeshi to score a fifty - off just 57 balls - on debut. His good form continued on the tour of Kenya that followed and he steered Bangladesh to victory in the first and third one-day internationals. He took his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs, against Ireland in March 2008 but risked his international career by joining the rebel ICL the same year. He was subsequently handed a 10-year ban by the BCB but quit the league the following year.

Upon his return to the official fold, Farhad played his first international in November 2011. His all-round abilities won him a place in Bangladesh's squad for the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri LankaCricinfo Staff August 2012